UNHCR - Governments and Partners Governments and Partners Governments and Partners Governments and Partners Charged with protecting millions around the world, our organization must work with a wide variety of donors and partners to adequately fulfil our role. UN Sister Organizations Our partnerships range from governments to non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and refugee communities. We raise funds through governments, foundations and private donors so that refugees can be assisted immediately with food, shelter and other essentials distributed by our implementing partners. Longer-term solutions also depend on the participation of civil society and refugees themselves. While we are directly concerned with the protection of refugees, our overall mission is to provide operational support and coordination to a wide range of private and public actors who work in the interest of refugees. In the field, UNHCR's core work is managed from a series of regional offices, branch offices, sub-offices and field offices. The High Commissioner's representatives head operations in the countries where the agency works, while there are also a number of regional representatives. United Nations (UN) | international organization | Britannica.com international organization international organization United Nations (UN), international organization established on October 24, 1945.

The United Nations (UN) was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Its predecessor, the League of Nations , was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and disbanded in 1946. Headquartered in New York City, the UN also has regional offices in Geneva , Vienna , and Nairobi . Its official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. For a list of UN member countries and secretaries-general, see below . First session of the United Nations General Assembly, January 10, 1946, at the Central Hall in … Marcel Bolomey/United Nations, Photo 24480 According to its Charter , the UN aims: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,…to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights,…to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

In addition to maintaining peace and security, other important objectives include developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples; achieving worldwide cooperation to solve international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems; respecting and promoting human rights ; and serving as a centre where countries can coordinate their actions and activities toward these various ends. The UN formed a continuum with the League of Nations in general purpose, structure, and functions; many of the UN’s principal organs and related agencies were adopted from similar structures established earlier in the century. In some respects, however, the UN constituted a very different organization, especially with regard to its objective of maintaining international peace and security and its commitment to economic and social development. Similar Topics International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Changes in the nature of international relations resulted in modifications in the responsibilities of the UN and its decision-making apparatus. Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union deeply affected the UN’s security functions during its first 45 years. Extensive post-World War II decolonization in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East increased the volume and nature of political, economic, and social issues that confronted the organization.

The Cold War’s end in 1991 brought renewed attention and appeals to the UN. Amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate, there were new challenges to established practices and functions, especially in the areas of conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. At the beginning of the 21st century, the UN and its programs and affiliated agencies struggled to address humanitarian crises and civil wars, unprecedented refugee flows, the devastation caused by the spread of AIDS , global financial disruptions, international terrorism , and the disparities in wealth between the world’s richest and poorest peoples. History and development Despite the problems encountered by the League of Nations in arbitrating conflict and ensuring international peace and security prior to World War II , the major Allied powers agreed during the war to establish a new global organization to help manage international affairs. This agreement was first articulated when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter in August 1941. The name United Nations was originally used to denote the countries allied against Germany , Italy , and Japan . On January 1, 1942, 26 countries signed the Declaration by United Nations , which set forth the war aims of the Allied powers .

The United States , the United Kingdom , and the Soviet Union took the lead in designing the new organization and determining its decision-making structure and functions. Initially, the “Big Three” states and their respective leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Soviet premier Joseph Stalin ) were hindered by disagreements on issues that foreshadowed the Cold War. The Soviet Union demanded individual membership and voting rights for its constituent republics, and Britain wanted assurances that its colonies would not be placed under UN control. There also was disagreement over the voting system to be adopted in the Security Council , an issue that became famous as the “veto problem.” Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The first major step toward the formation of the United Nations was taken August 21–October 7, 1944, at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference , a meeting of the diplomatic experts of the Big Three powers plus China (a group often designated the “Big Four”) held at Dumbarton Oaks, an estate in Washington, D.C. Although the four countries agreed on the general purpose, structure, and function of a new world organization, the conference ended amid continuing disagreement over membership and voting.

At the Yalta Conference , a meeting of the Big Three in a Crimean resort city in February 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin laid the basis for charter provisions delimiting the authority of the Security Council. Moreover, they reached a tentative accord on the number of Soviet republics to be granted independent memberships in the UN. Finally, the three leaders agreed that the new organization would include a trusteeship system to succeed the League of Nations mandate system. Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? The Dumbarton Oaks proposals, with modifications from the Yalta Conference, formed the basis of negotiations at the United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO), which convened in San Francisco on April 25, 1945, and produced the final Charter of the United Nations. The San Francisco conference was attended by representatives of 50 countries from all geographic areas of the world: 9 from Europe, 21 from the Americas, 7 from the Middle East, 2 from East Asia, and 3 from Africa, as well as 1 each from the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (in addition to the Soviet Union itself) and 5 from British Commonwealth countries.

Poland, which was not present at the conference, was permitted to become an original member of the UN. Security Council veto power (among the permanent members) was affirmed, though any member of the General Assembly was able to raise issues for discussion. Other political issues resolved by compromise were the role of the organization in the promotion of economic and social welfare; the status of colonial areas and the distribution of trusteeships; the status of regional and defense arrangements; and Great Power dominance versus the equality of states. The UN Charter was unanimously adopted and signed on June 26 and promulgated on October 24, 1945. Organization and administration Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Principles and membership The purposes, principles, and organization of the United Nations are outlined in the Charter.

The essential principles underlying the purposes and functions of the organization are listed in Article 2 and include the following: the UN is based on the sovereign equality of its members; disputes are to be settled by peaceful means; members are to refrain from the threat or use of force in contravention of the purposes of the UN; each member must assist the organization in any enforcement actions it takes under the Charter; and states that are not members of the organization are required to act in accordance with these principles insofar as it is necessary to maintain international peace and security. Article 2 also stipulates a basic long-standing norm that the organization shall not intervene in matters considered within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. Although this was a major limitation on UN action, over time the line between international and domestic jurisdiction has become blurred. New members are admitted to the UN on the recommendation of the Security Council and by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. Often, however, the admittance of new members has engendered controversy.

Given Cold War divisions between East and West, the requirement that the Security Council’s five permanent members (sometimes known collectively as the P-5)—China, France , the Soviet Union (whose seat and membership were assumed by Russia in 1991), the United Kingdom, and the United States—concur on the admission of new members at times posed serious obstacles. By 1950 only 9 of 31 applicants had been admitted to the organization. In 1955 the 10th Assembly proposed a package deal that, after modification by the Security Council, resulted in the admission of 16 new states (4 eastern European communist states and 12 noncommunist countries). The most contentious application for membership was that of the communist People’s Republic of China , which was placed before the General Assembly and blocked by the United States at every session from 1950 to 1971.

Finally, in 1971, in an effort to improve its relationship with mainland China , the United States refrained from blocking the Assembly’s vote to admit the People’s Republic and to expel the Republic of China ( Taiwan ); there were 76 votes in favour of expulsion, 35 votes opposed, and 17 abstentions. As a result, the Republic of China’s membership and permanent Security Council seat were given to the People’s Republic. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Controversy also arose over the issue of “divided” states, including the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), North and South Korea , and North and South Vietnam. The two German states were admitted as members in 1973; these two seats were reduced to one after the country’s reunification in October 1990. Vietnam was admitted in 1977, after the defeat of South Vietnam and the reunification of the country in 1975. The two Koreas were admitted separately in 1991.

Following worldwide decolonization from 1955 to 1960, 40 new members were admitted, and by the end of the 1970s there were about 150 members of the UN. Another significant increase occurred after 1989–90, when many former Soviet republics gained their independence. By the early 21st century the UN comprised nearly 190 member states. Page 1 of 6 The UN's Role in U.S. Refugee Resettlement | Center for Immigration Studies » The UN's Role in U.S. Refugee Resettlement The UN's Role in U.S. Refugee Resettlement A "benefit of the doubt" screening policy By Nayla Rush January 2016 A "benefit of the doubt" screening policy Download a PDF of this Backgrounder Nayla Rush is a senior researcher at the Center for Immigration Studies. Summary: The U.S. refugee resettlement program for Syrians relies heavily on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The UNHCR's role goes beyond providing shelter and services to people in the region; the United States entrusts UNHCR with the entire selection and pre-screening process for Syrian refugees eligible for resettlement in the United States. Given that role, more inquiry into UNHCR's activities is warranted. Following the Paris terrorist attacks, Americans are becoming more and more apprehensive about welcoming Syrian refugees into the country, especially since the risk of ISIS infiltrating refugee groups has materialized (two of the Paris terrorists entered Europe through the island of Lesbos in Greece as refugees). According to a recent Rasmussen poll, "Most Americans say 'No' to Syrian refugees in their state": 60 percent oppose it, 28 percent are in favor, and 11 percent remain undecided. 1 A bill 2 calling for a tighter screening system for Syrian refugees has already passed the house and more than half of the nation's governors 3 (31 to date) have now voiced their opposition to the resettlement of Syrian refugees into their states. More recently, 74 House members signed a letter "calling for House leadership to include language that would halt the Obama administration's refugee resettlement program in the ...

omnibus spending bill." 4 (The House leadership did not do so.) The Obama administration and its supporters dismissed these concerns as contrary to American values ("Slamming the door in the face of refugees would betray our deepest values. That's not who we are.") 5 and totally unfounded ("Obama says Syrian refugees are no bigger threat to U.S. than 'tourists'"). 6 At hearing 7 after hearing, 8 government officials have reiterated the following: The U.S. refugee resettlement program poses no threat to the safety of the American people, and all refugees — including Syrians — are subjected to rigorous screening before they are admitted into the United States. For example, Anne Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, reassured us that: "Applicants to the U.S. refugee admissions program are currently subject to the highest level of security checks of any category of traveler to the United States." 9 Center for Immigration Studies Executive Director Mark Krikorian testified that "there is no reason to doubt this. The people in the Departments of State and Homeland Security, and at the intelligence agencies they work with, are doing their best to protect our people from harm. ...

The problem is that proper screening of people from Syria cannot be done. We are giving our people an assignment that they cannot accomplish successfully." 10 What is not common knowledge is that we are also giving another group of people a delicate assignment to accomplish within the refugee resettlement program. Whether this is being accomplished successfully is open to question. The United States is entrusting the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the entire selection and pre-screening process of Syrian refugees eligible for resettlement in the United States. "UNHCR is the United States' largest partner overseas. We provide substantial funding to that agency," said Larry Bartlett from the State Department. 11 The United States has donated $4.5 billion to UNHCR since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011. For those who question its humanitarian outreach, the United States is the most generous donor to the refugee cause of any nation in the world. The U.S. government not only provides funds to UNHCR and relies on its staff to properly assist Syrian refugees in the region (through cash grants, shelter, access to health and education, etc.), it is depending on them for refugee status determinations and resettlement referrals.

A refugee is "someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion." 12 Resettlement is the "transfer of refugees from the country in which they have sought asylum to another state that has agreed to admit them as refugees and to grant them permanent settlement and the opportunity for eventual citizenship." 13 A small number of countries participate in UNHCR's resettlement program; the world's top resettlement country is the United States. The Syrian crisis, now in its fifth year, has resulted in the "biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation", according to António Guterres, who ended more than 10 years as head of UNHCR on December 31. More than four million people have fled from Syria to neighboring countries in the Middle East since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011. Most, if not all, have been registered as refugees.

14 As of December 31, 2015, there were 4,390,439 registered Syrian refugees in the region: 15 2,291,900 in Turkey 123,585 in Egypt 26,722 in other North African countries Out of the four million-plus registered Syrian refugees in the region, UNHCR has so far submitted 22,427 cases to the United States for resettlement consideration. Of those, about 2,000 were accepted last year. The United States is welcoming Syrian refugees only from the 22,427 who made it through UNHCR referrals; it is not considering the remaining 4,368,012. Of course, no Syrian has a right to be resettled here, "and there is no obligation on states to accept refugees through resettlement. ... Whether individual refugees will ultimately be resettled depends on the admission criteria of the resettlement state." 16 The point here is that UNHCR presents the United States with potential resettlement cases. What Is UNHCR and How Does It Operate?

UNHCR is the UN refugee agency, established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly. 17 It is "mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees." It has the international mandate to determine who is (and who is not) attributed refugee status, to provide refugee assistance, and to decide who is eligible for resettlement in third countries. UNHCR's ultimate goal is to seek and provide durable solutions that will allow refugees to "rebuild their lives in dignity and peace." 18 There are three durable solutions available to refugees: Voluntary repatriation, in which refugees return safely to their country of origin; Local integration, in which refugees legally, economically, and socially integrate in the host country; and Resettlement to a third country in situations where it is "impossible for a person to go back home or remain in the host country." UNHCR lists two preconditions for resettlement consideration: First, the applicant should be determined by UNHCR to be a refugee. Second, resettlement should be identified as the most appropriate solution after all durable solutions are assessed.

UNHCR staff present in neighboring countries in the Middle East receive Syrians who have fled their country and register them (or not) as refugees. It would not be surprising, in light of the large numbers and an evident sense of urgency, if these Syrian nationals benefited from a "group determination" of refugee status. The process of "group determination" is explained in UNHCR's procedures handbook: 19 While refugee status must normally be determined on an individual basis, situations have also arisen in which entire groups have been displaced under circumstances indicating that members of the group could be considered individually as refugees. In such situations the need to provide assistance is often extremely urgent and it may not be possible for purely practical reasons to carry out an individual determination of refugee status for each member of the group. Recourse has therefore been had to so-called "group determination" of refugee status, whereby each member of the group is regarded prima facie (i.e. in the absence of evidence to the contrary) as a refugee. Let us assume, however, that regular procedures were followed. One interview usually is sufficient for the determination of refugee status. In case of apparent inconsistencies and contradictions, the examiner might schedule a second one to clarify any misrepresentation or concealment of facts.

That said, as UNHCR explains: "often an applicant may not be able to support his statements by documentary or other proof, and cases in which an applicant can provide evidence of all his statements will be the exception rather than the rule." 20 Therefore, "the requirement of evidence should not be too strictly applied." Furthermore, "untrue statements by themselves are not a reason for refusal of refugee status and it is the examiner's responsibility to evaluate such statements in the light of all the circumstances of the case." If proofs are not required for the recognition of a refugee claim, one input is essential and that is "information on practices in the country of origin". 21 "Practices in the country of origin", Syria here, are probably familiar to all Syrian nationals (not just the trained UNHCR officer in charge of interviewing refugees). Is it safe to assume that a Syrian "fighter" who was granted refugee status and was looking to resettle somewhere in the West would pass this "knowledge" test? We need to learn more about this supposedly intensive vetting process that lasts, we are told, 18-24 months (due to waiting time, not extra vetting procedures).

It is clear that refugee status attribution does not rely on material facts, but on UNHCR's general assessment of the situation. Of the four million-plus Syrians who fled to neighboring countries, 4,390,439 (probably all) were granted refugee status. UNHCR employs some 9,000 staff in 123 countries, mostly working in field locations close to where displaced people are. In the countries hosting most of the Syrian refugees — Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt — UNHCR staff totals 2,038. Country staff details are shown in Table 1. What do we know about UNHCR's employees in the region, the men and women the U.S. government believes possess the exceptional good judgment and expertise needed to make refugee determinations and resettlement referrals? Not much. We know that these 2,038 staff members (of whom only 415 are international, the rest being citizens of the countries where they are working) are responsible for the registration of over four million people in distress. This entails interviewing people, checking and recording available documents, and providing refugee status.

They are also in charge of follow-up assistance with housing, food, education, clothing, and the like, as well as coordination with government officials and local communities. Furthermore, they select refugees for resettlement consideration. With 2,038 staff members for 4,390,439 refugees, that equals approximately 2,154 refugees per staff member — provided that all 2,038 staff members hold positions of responsibility within the refugee determination and resettlement process. (UNHCR staff also includes drivers, supply and finance officers, translators, and others.) If we were to only discount those listed as others, JPOs, and UN volunteers, we'd end up with 1,534 staff for 4,390,439 refugees. That's one staff member for 2,862 refugees. Even if various humanitarian partners and NGOs assist the UN agency on the ground, UNHCR staff remains in charge of the screening and referral of refugees. Let us not forget, also, that the Middle East is a region where turmoil is not uncommon — the Syrian crisis only made it worse.

Many of these hosting countries are themselves beset by political instability and civil unrest, economic hardships, and sectarian tensions and Islamic extremism (not to mention human rights and corruption issues). Numerous communities, especially the youth, suffer from extreme poverty, rising unemployment, and desperation. For example, the average corruption score in 2014 for the five countries sheltering most of the Syrian refugees was 34.8/100 (the lower the number the more corrupt). 22 The average ranking was 103.8/175 (175 being the most corrupt country in the world). For comparison, the United States scored 74/100 and ranked 17/175. We do not doubt that UNHCR staff are receiving the best training possible in order to undertake difficult assignments in such troubled settings. We trust as well that they are driven by the most honorable intentions as they assist populations in despair. Yet faced with the very large recent flows of refugees, in unsettled countries where citizens are already struggling, mistakes are not impossible.

By UNHCR's own admission, "Refugee status and resettlement places are valuable commodities, particularly in countries with acute poverty, where the temptation to make money by whatever means is strong. This makes the resettlement process a target for abuse." That said, the agency's dedication to its mission remains unaltered: "the possibilities for abuse are not a reason for reducing resettlement where the need for it persists." 23 UNHCR also acknowledges the risks of "external resettlement fraud" and "internal resettlement fraud". External resettlement fraud applies to "fraud perpetrated by persons other than those having a contractual relationship with UNHCR", such as the refugees or asylum seekers themselves. One example of external resettlement fraud is identity fraud: "Identity fraud occurs when an identity is either invented, or the identity of another real person is assumed by an impostor. Supporting documents may be missing, or fraudulent documents provided. This may occur at any stage during the process, e.g.

a refugee or non-refugee 'purchases' an interview slot or a departure slot and takes the place of a refugee who has been identified as in need of resettlement." 24 Other types include "family composition fraud", "one of the areas where misrepresentation or fraud is most likely to be committed"; and "document fraud" or "material misrepresentation fraud", whereby "refugees deliberately exaggerate, invent, or otherwise misrepresent the nature or details of their refugee claim or resettlement needs". Another type of external fraud is "bribery of UNHCR staff or others involved in the resettlement process with money, favors, or gifts." "Internal resettlement fraud" refers to fraud perpetrated by UNHCR staff themselves. Examples include drafting false refugee claims or false needs assessments for resettlement; facilitating preferential processing or access to the procedure; charging a fee or asking for a favor to be added to an interview list; coaching refugees prior to or during the interview; and providing false medical attestations. Resettlement procedures are free of charge. However, the fraudulent actions described above are often undertaken for a fee, a favor, or a gift and constitute corruption.

Personal relationships with the refugees can also pose problems as "they involve a relationship of unequal power and are thus easily subject to exploitation. The staff member will always be perceived as having power over the refugee, and the refugee may thus feel obliged to provide favors, including those of a sexual nature, in order to obtain certain benefits, or to avoid negative repercussions." This could be of added concern in countries where familiarity and congeniality are general cultural traits. UNHCR has taken measures to combat fraud in order to "preserve the integrity of resettlement". 25 One of the most effective measures, according to the agency, is following standardized operating procedures carefully. Others involve: Clearly defining roles and responsibilities for all staff; Ensuring that there are tracking systems that allow each step and action to be reconstructed; and Counselling refugees on the implications of committing or being complicit in fraud before signing the Resettlement Registration Form (RRF).

In general terms, sanctions against fraudulent refugees are applied in a "discretionary manner" and may vary "due to a range of circumstances, including individual protection needs, country conditions, individual motives, and mitigating/aggravating factors." Falsification of personal information may result in a "warning, or a time-limited suspension of resettlement processing". The dissuasive effect of these sanctions on desperate refugees remains to be proven. Let's not forget that it is usually the most vulnerable refugees who are chosen for resettlement. UNHCR's resettlement submission categories 26 include: Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs of the refugee in the country of refuge; Survivors of Torture and/or Violence; Medical Needs, in particular life-saving treatment that is unavailable in the country of refuge; Women and Girls at Risk; Children and Adolescents at Risk; and Family Reunification, when resettlement is the only means to reunite refugee family members who, owing to refugee flight or displacement, are separated by borders or entire continents. Of the 22,427 Syrian cases referred by UNHCR to the United States for resettlement, what do we know? Which categories do they belong to?

Are they victims of torture or just reuniting with family? Do they have specific medical needs? Which country of refuge do they come from? Which UNHCR office or offices referred them to the United States? Did they come forward on their own or were they encouraged by UNHCR staff to apply? More importantly, and knowing that "a foundation of resettlement policy is that it provides a durable solution for refugees unable to voluntarily return home or remain in their country of refuge," 27 were those refugees truly unable to remain in the hosting country? Why? All of these questions remain unanswered. We need to learn more about this supposedly intensive vetting process that lasts, we are told, 18-24 months. Let's assume that candidates for resettlement were interviewed twice by UNHCR before their cases reach the U.S. State Department, as Larry Bartlett explained: "So by the time our folks are reviewing the application, they've already been talked to twice.

They have had a very good incentive to provide accurate information to the UNHCR because that's how — at that registration that's how they get food rations and housing, for the most part." 28 We do not doubt that incentive was key, especially if the United States is invoked as a possible destination. But no matter how often these people are interviewed by UNHCR (twice or more), the same guidelines apply: "The mere absence of information, or one's inability to find information that supports an applicant's claim, should not in itself justify a negative eligibility decision." 29 What is (only) required from applicants are statements that "must be coherent and plausible, and must not run counter to generally known facts." 30 In the end, UNHCR's policy is based on the assumption that "It is hardly possible for a refugee to 'prove' every part of his case and, indeed, if this were a requirement the majority of refugees would not be recognized. It is therefore frequently necessary to give the applicant the benefit of the doubt." 31 That is understandable since, let us not forget, UNHCR's humanitarian mission is first and foremost to help refugees.

The words of a nun who ran a center that assisted migrant housemaids in the Middle East resonate here; when asked whether she had doubts about the stories women told her when they came to her for help, she replied, "Of course, but at the Centre, we choose to believe every story." That is what nuns do. And that is what Jesus would have probably done, to answer a journalist's sensational headline. 32 In humanitarian settings, when evidence cannot be relied upon, one is left with a subjective appraisal of the honesty of persons in need of help. The only choice could be, in the end, to choose to trust the applicant. Except that United States government officials are not in charge of a Christian center, nor are they heading a humanitarian agency. They cannot simply follow their hearts, nor can they run this country on a benefit-of-the-doubt policy. And trusting UN staff to do a perfect job should not be a blind option. UNHCR's screening and referral processes are worthy of scrutiny — very much in need of scrutiny, in fact. Let us not forget that resettlement is one of UNHCR's "durable solutions".

According to USCIS, resettled refugees "are required by law to apply for a green card (permanent residence) in the United States one year after being admitted as a refugee." 33 They can apply for citizenship four years later (not five, as the five-year count for refugees starts on the day of arrival). From this perspective, a resettlement card gives access to a citizenship — for the resettled refugees and later their families, since family reunification is implied here. Resettled refugees can, in fact, ask for their families to join them. In 2012, and following a four-year suspension for DNA testing fraud, the United States reinstated the Priority Three (P-3) family reunification program for spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of persons lawfully admitted to the United States as refugees or asylees. 34 This is important because, by UNHCR's own admission, "family composition fraud" is "one of the areas where fraud is most likely to be committed." In summary, Americans are asked today to welcome Syrian refugees without hesitation and have total faith in the refugee resettlement program.

They are asked to give the benefit of the doubt to UNHCR staff in tormented countries, and to trust their own government officials with their national security — officials who are delegating parts of their screening responsibilities overseas to the UNHCR. How about returning the favor? How about we also give Americans the benefit of the doubt? Why not believe that American men and women are genuinely concerned about their families' safety as they ask for a halt in the refugee resettlement program for Syrian refugees? Refugees need only be "believable"; can we treat Americans just as well? Stop undermining those who doubt the system by accusing them, at best, of being politically driven and, at worst, of being racist, anti-immigrant, and a shame to America. The UNHCR is deciding not only who can move to the United States, it is also choosing who gets a chance to become American and who doesn't. Given such high stakes, Americans should be encouraged to question this opaque system.

End Notes UNHCR Population Statistics - Data - Overview MID-YEAR STATISTICS Welcome to the UNHCR Population Statistics Database The database currently contains data about UNHCR's populations of concern from the year 1951 up to 2014 and you can use it to investigate different aspects of these populations: their general composition by location of residence or origin, their status (refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, etc.), their evolution over time, and so on.. In each of the screens in the system you start by selecting the sub-set of data you are interested in, choosing one or more countries or territories of residence and/or origin. You can focus on specific types of population by checking the boxes for only those you are concerned with, and you can summarise the data by checking the boxes for only those data items by which you wish the data to be broken down. General notes A number of statistics are not shown in this system but are displayed as asterisks (*). These represent situations where the figures are being kept confidential to protect the anonymity of persons of concern. Note that such figures are not included in any totals.

On each page you have the option to download the data you have selected to a comma-separated variable (CSV) format file, from which you can import the data into a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel and analyse it in greater depth. UNHCR's Field Information and Coordination Support Section is responsible for this system. If you have any questions or require further information, please email us at FICSS . UNHCR's populations of concern Refugees include individuals recognised under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; its 1967 Protocol; the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa; those recognised in accordance with the UNHCR Statute; individuals granted complementary forms of protection; or those enjoying temporary protection. Since 2007, the refugee population also includes people in a refugee-like situation. Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined, irrespective of when they may have been lodged.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are people or groups of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of, or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalised violence, violations of human rights, or natural or man-made disasters, and who have not crossed an international border. For the purposes of UNHCR's statistics, this population only includes conflict-generated IDPs to whom the Office extends protection and/or assistance. Since 2007, the IDP population also includes people in an IDP-like situation. For global IDP estimates, see Returned refugees are former refugees who have returned to their country of origin spontaneously or in an organised fashion but are yet to be fully integrated. Such return would normally only take place in conditions of safety and dignity. Returned IDPs refer to those IDPs who were beneficiaries of UNHCR's protection and assistance activities and who returned to their areas of origin or habitual residence during the year. Stateless persons are defined under international law as persons who are not considered as nationals by any State under the operation of its law. In other words, they do not possess the nationality of any State.

UNHCR statistics refer to persons who fall under the agency’s statelessness mandate because they are stateless according to this international definition, but data from some countries may also include persons with undetermined nationality. Others of concern refers to individuals who do not necessarily fall directly into any of the groups above, but to whom UNHCR extends its protection and/or assistance services, based on humanitarian or other special grounds. gro.rchnu@stats UNHCR Canberra Submit your story. If you are a refugee or asylum seeker currently in or from the Pacific region and would like your story to be featured on the UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra website, please fill out this form. REFUGEE FAMILIES NEED YOUR HELP NOW UNHCR is on the ground providing life-saving protection and we urgently need your help to continue our work. How Can You Help? A monthly donation will help us reach more families in desperate need of shelter and protection, and allow us to provide long term support. The six main UN organs | United Nations Association of Slovenia The six main UN organs The General Assembly The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations and includes all its Members.

It may discuss any matter arising under the UN Charter and make recommendations to UN Members (except on disputes or situations which are being considered by the Security Council). In the Assembly, each nation, large or small, has one vote and important decisions are taken by a two-thirds majority vote. The Assembly meets every year from September to December. Special sessions may be summoned by the Assembly, at the request of the Security Council, or at the request of a majority of UN Members. The work of the General Assembly is also carried out by its six main committees, the Human Rights Council, other subsidiary bodies and the UN Secretariat. The Security Council The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter for maintaining peace and security. It can be convened at any time, whenever peace is threatened. Member States are obligated to carry out its decisions. When a threat to peace is brought before the Council, it usually first asks the parties to reach agreement by peaceful means. If fighting breaks out, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may then send peacekeeping missions to troubled areas or call for economic sanctions and embargoes to restore peace.

The Council has 15 members, including five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly on the basis of geographical representation for two-year terms. Decisions require nine votes; except on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if there is a negative vote by a permanent member (known as the “veto”). The Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly on the appointment of a new Secretary-General and on the admission of new members to the UN. Many countries want to expand the membership of the Council to include new permanent and non-permanent members. The Economic and Social Council The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the central body for coordinating the economic and social work of the United Nations and the UN family of organizations. It has 54 member nations elected from all regions. As much as 70 per cent of the work of the UN system is devoted to promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development. The Council recommends and directs activities aimed at promoting economic growth of developing countries, supporting human rights and fostering world cooperation to fight poverty and under-development.

To meet specific needs, the General Assembly has set up a number of specialized agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and programmes such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The work of these agencies and programmes is coordinated by ECOSOC. The Trusteeship Council The Trusteeship Council was assigned under the UN Charter to supervise the administration of Trust Territories — former colonies or dependent territories — which were placed under the International Trusteeship System. The system was created at the end of the Second World War to promote the advancement of the inhabitants of those dependent Territories and their progressive development towards self-government or independence. Since the creation of the Trusteeship Council, more than 70 colonial Territories, including all of the original 11 Trust Territories, have attained independence with the help of the United Nations. As a result, in 1994, the Council decided formally to suspend its operation and to meet as and when occasion might require.

The International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the UN’s main judicial organ. Presiding over the ICJ, or “World Court”, are 15 judges, each from a different nation, elected by the General Assembly and Security Council. The Court settles legal disputes between nations only and not between individuals, in accordance with international law. If a country does not wish to take part in a proceeding it does not have to do so, unless required by special treaty provisions. Once a country accepts the Court's jurisdiction, it must comply with its decision. The seat of the International Court of Justice is at The Hague in the Netherlands. The offices of the Court occupy the “Peace Palace”, which was constructed by the Carnegie Foundation, a private non-profit organization, to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the present Court. The UN makes an annual contribution to the Foundation for the use of the building. The Secretariat The Secretariat is made up of an international staff working at UN Headquarters in New York, as well as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi and other locations.

It consists of departments and offices with a total staff of around 16,000, drawn from some 175 countries. Including civil staff in peacekeeping missions the total number comprises approximately 30,000 staff. Staff members carry out the substantive and administrative work of the United Nations as directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the other organs. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. He is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year term. As the chief administrative officer of the Organization, the Secretary-General directs its work. He is also responsible for implementing decisions taken by the various organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten international peace and security. He may use his “good offices” to prevent conflicts or promote peaceful settlement of disputes between countries. The Secretary-General may also act on his own initiative to deal with humanitarian or other problems of special importance.

There have been only eight Secretaries-General since the founding of the UN: Trygve Lie (Norway), 1946-1952 U Thant (Burma, now Myanmar), 1961-1971 Kurt Waldheim (Austria), 1972-1981 Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru), 1982-1991 Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt), 1992-1996

Question: The UN Organisation UNHCR is concerned with which type of people?
Answer: REFUGEES